Date of intake:: 8/31/2026

Spay/Neuter status:: No

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray, No known history

Date of assessment:: 9/8/2026

Summary:: Gramps has been observed to be highly fearful while in care. Noted to growl and hard bark at handlers when they attempt to interact with him. Due to the high levels of fear, stress, and anxiety Gramps is not a candidate for a handling assessment at this time.

Summary:: Due to entering the facility as a stray, there is no prior dog-to-dog history recorded. 9/12/26: Gramps is introduced to a novel intact male and is loose at the gate with wide high wags. He sniffs nose to nose through the fence with a loose wiggly body, then disengages and marks in the fence. He reapproaches intermittently remaining loose, then will continue sniffing in the catch pen. 9/8/26: Gramps is introduced to a novel intact female and is loose at the gate with high wags. He demand barks when the other dog is interacting with her handler and does not initially approach. The two sniff nose to nose through the fence and Gramps gives high wags remaining loose, then marks on the fence. The other dog is let into the yard and he demand barks at both another handler and the other dog, then walks over and sniffs the other dog with high wags. He does a chin over and then attempts to mount, the other dog head whips and gives him an appropriate vocal correction and Gramps does not react back. He is pulled away and attempts to reapproach the other dog, then begins demand barking.

Summary (3):: 09/23/26: Gramps is at the front of his kennel barking at handler as they approach he wags his tail a bit as handler approaches and unlocks the kennel door. He is slowly leashed and walks with handler out to the street for a walk, outside Gramps walks alongside handler, stopping occasionally to sniff spots on the street or to relieve himself. He accepts treats offered and ignores people and dogs he sees outside, Gramps walks for a while uneventfully before being brought back inside, he is returned to kennel without issue and interaction is ended. 9/19/26: Gramps is standing at the front of his kennel and begins toe tapping and demand barking with a loose and wiggly body and mid level wags. He is leashed without issue and jumps up greeting the handler while whining. He leans into pets and attempts to lick the handler's face. He relieves himself on the way outside and pulls lightly towards people and dogs with a loose body and high wags. On his walk, Gramps checks in with the handler often and walks on a loose leash. He is non reactive to people, dogs, and loud sounds. He is brought to the behavior office and put on a drag leash, approaches handlers with a loose body, sniffing their feet and then hops up on the couch leaning into pets from the primary handler. He rolls around and allows belly rubs, continuously soliciting more pets. He climbs on the handler's lap when they attempt to work, standing on their laptop and attempting to lick their face. He paws at the handler for more pets anytime they stop. He takes treats gently and looks to the handler's treat pouch for more. He is non reactive to people entering and leaving the room, often jumping down and sniffing the person from behind when they come in the room. A handler turns on a bubble machine and Gramps lifts a paw and retreats. He recovers without issue once the machine is turned off, and hops back up on the couch soliciting attention from the primary handler. He on and off takes treats dropped from other handlers, but does bare teeth when a handler attempts to give them to him by reaching towards him. He again recovers without issue when the hand is removed. He is brought back to kennel with a lick matt, hopping in on his own.

Summary (4):: 9/11/26: Gramps is lying down at the back of his kennel and comes to the front with high wags, demand barking. He attempts to push out of kennel when the door is opened but is leashed without issue. He jumps on the handler whining and leans into pets when the handler crouches. He relieves himself once out of the kennel room and going out to the yard. The handler puts Gramps on a drag leash and he sniffs in the yard and uses the bathroom. He trots over to the handler and jumps on them, attempting to lick their face. He leans in to scratches and continues to solicit more pets. He takes treats gently and will put his face in the handler's treat pouch but not take anything, then look to the handler for more treats. He is brought to the behavior office and jumps up on the couch, rolling around and playfully gently mouthing the handler's hands. He allows belly and chest scratches and then continues crawling into the handler's lap and rolling. Another handler sits on the couch and he is non reactive and does some investigatory sniffing with a loose body and high wags. The handler puts a hand out and he low growls, recovering immediately when their hand is taken away, greeting his familiar handler. He hard stares at their hands when they offer treats but takes them when they are placed next to him. He relaxes on the couch for a while, intermittently greeting his handler. He is brought back to kennel and greets a neighbor dog through the kennel bars with a loose body, easily led away. He turns around and walks away from his kennel but allows the handler to pick him up and place him in. Once the door is closed, he begins demand barking.

Summary (5):: 9/8/26: Gramps was lying down in the back of his kennel and came to the front with high wags, allowing the leash to be slipped on without reaction. He exited without issue and sniffed the handler with high wags, then relieved himself many times on the way outside. In the yard, he independently explored and would check in with his handler often and sniff their legs. The handler crouched on a blanket and let Gramps sniff a collar, Gramps came forward and gave high wags as the handler collared him and clipped a leash on. He continued using the bathroom in the yard and then returned, sniffing the handler's lap. He sniffed treats but did not take them and did not hover over them when they were on the blanket, allowing the handler to move them without issue. He gave a grunt when the handler gave him a back pet, then after several minutes when trying again, he was non reactive. He lowered his head initially when the handler reached towards his head, but when they pulled away he stepped closer and looked at the handler with soft eyes. He allowed gentle head pets and would scooch closer with high wags and soft eyes. He allowed the handler to swap leashes without issue and walked inside with no pulling. He looked to one dog with high wags and perked ears when a few feet away in the hallway, redirecting without issue and continuing to walk. Gramps attempted to walk back out of the kennel room once inside, but allowed the handler to lift him and place him in kennel without issue. 9/5/26: Gramps was lying down in the back of his kennel and was non reactive when the handler unlocked his kennel. He low growled when the leash was slipped in but remained still while it was slowly secured. He exited kennel on his own and immediately relieved himself, marking multiple times on the way outside. In the play yard, Gramps sniffed and continued using the bathroom. He stood nearby the handler at the bench and sniffed their shoes. The handler crouched down and Gramps sniffed them for multiple minutes. He did not take churu rolls but ate jerky treats with high wags. He began taking them directly from the handler's hands, at first freezing beforehand but then began taking them confidently. He was gentle and did not freeze/growl when his face would touch the handler's hand. He sniffed their open treat pouch but did not take treats on his own and would look to the handler with soft eyes waiting for another treat. He was non reactive when the handler brushed their back with their arm and would stay closeby partially leaning into the handler's legs. He looked to other dogs while walking back with a loose body and high wags, easily redirected and continued walking. He stopped outside his kennel and looked to the handler. He did not go in when the handler tossed a jerky treat. The handler used a bit of leash pressure and he struggled going in, the handler gently gave a lift/push from behind and he was non reactive.

Summary (6):: 9/4/26: Gramps was lying down in the back of his kennel and guttural growled when approached. He stayed in place but lowered his head as the leash was slipped on, then continued growling and hard barking. A little leash pressure was used to get him out of kennel and he then marked on the way outside and in the yard. He sniffed around briefly and then began sniffing the handler's shoes. They walked to the bench and Gramps stood next to the handler. He did not take a jerky treat, churu roll treat, or churu. He low growled when offered the churu. The handler placed the churu pack down on the bench and Gramps low growled at it. When the handler spoke to him he gave a couple high wags and redirected his attention away from the churu. The handler crouched nearby and he approached with high wags and sniffed them from the side/behind for multiple minutes. He would give high wags when the handler spoke to him, occasionally looking to them with perked ears. He stood partially leaning into the handler's leg, and was non reactive to the handler lightly brushing his back/side with their elbow/forearm. He would scooch closer slowly with time and would sniff the handler from in front of them, including sniffing their hands. Another handler in a neighbor yard greeted him and he began guttural growling at them. After a while he slowly lay down and began closing his eyes. He was startled by a loud sound and stood back up, then walked back inside the shelter without issue. He stood outside his kennel not entering, leaning into the handler's legs and looking at them with soft eyes. With a little leash pressure he went inside. 9/4/26: Gramps bared teeth guttural growling when approached. He stayed in place growling and hard barking as the leash was slipped on. He hesitated coming out of kennel but hopped out with light leash pressure. He marked many times while leaving the shelter and once in the yard. He was generally aloof but when the handler sat on the bench/crouched nearby, he would sit by them. He was non reactive to the handler touching his side/back with their leg and gave a few high wags when the handler spoke to him. He walked inside with no pulling. He greeted a dog in the neighboring kennel with a loose body and mid level wags. He did not enter initially but then hopped in on his own. He growled when the handler offered a treat through the kennel bars

Summary (7):: 9/3/26: Gramps began guttural growling while baring teeth when the handler approaches. He does not take a treat through the bars but when the door is opened and leash slipped in, he began to hover over the treat, hard barking towards the handler with whale eye and then eventually ate the treat. He retreats to the back of his kennel and repeatedly hard barks but stays frozen in place as the leash is slipped around him. He walked outside without issue and used the bathroom. In the play yard, he sniffed and continued using the bathroom. The handler crouched and avoided eye contact, Gramps sat next to them and briefly gave a couple high wags when they spoke to him softly. He was non reactive to the handler's leg touching their tail/back or when accidental contact was made when adjusting the leash. At one point, the handler's hand touched his head and he whale eyed and bared teeth, slowly turning towards them. He walked back inside and entered kennel without issue. He immediately began guttural growling frozen in place once inside. 9/3/26: Gramps is in the back of his kennel growling as the handler approaches. When the handler brings the pre-clipped leash, Gramps snaps at it a few times; when they leash him, he paws and barks at it. Once the leash is on him, Gramps slightly baulks, but with a little leash pressure, he exits his kennel. Gramps walks with mild leash tension and no reactivity to dogs or people. Gramps is mainly aloof, only looking at the handler briefly when they call him or use their squeaker. Upon entry, Gramps hesitates to enter his kennel as the floor below it is slippery ; the handler applies leash pressure, but he doesn't enter. With a bit more leash pressure, Gramps places his front paws in the kennel and climbs inside; the handler removes their leash. 9/2/26: It is reported that Gramps is lunging and snapping at handlers when they approach his kennel. 9/1/26: It is reported that Gramps is snapping and growling when handlers attempt to leash him

Date of intake:: 8/31/2026

Summary:: Fearful, snaps when touched

Date of initial:: 9/2/2026

Summary:: Baring teeth and growling when approached. Snapping at leash when in kennel. Opted to sedate

ENERGY LEVEL:: We have no history on Gramps so we cannot be certain of their behavior in a home environment. However, they will need daily mental and physical activity to stay engaged and exercised. We recommend long-lasting chews, food puzzles, and hide-and-seek games, in addition to physical exercise, to positively direct their energy and enthusiasm.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

Recommendations:: No children (under 13),Place with a New Hope partner

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to fearful behavior, we recommend an adult only home. We recommend placement with a New Hope rescue partner who is able to provide an experienced, adult-only foster home. Force-free, reward based training and/or consultation with a professional trainer/behaviorist is highly recommended.

Potential challenges: : Handling/touch sensitivity,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression

Potential challenges comments:: Handling/touch sensitivity/Fearful Defensive: Gramps has been observed to hard bark, growl, bare teeth, and snap when handlers attempt to interact with him. It is important to move slowly with Gramps, to build positive associations (treats/toys/praise), and to allow them to initiate interactions with new people. They should never be forced to greet or to interact if they are not comfortable and soliciting attention. Please see handout on Fearful and Defensive Aggression and Handling/touch sensitivity.